MotorTrend best handling car comparo - RX8 included
 

Didn't see it posted, so here you go.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...sts/index.html

always nice to see more info.

awesome test - look forward to part two ...

Sweet!!!!

It seems like the rubber on the RX-8 is pretty weak. It's losing out on the tests which should be its strong points(braking). It's losing to the Mustang even!

225/40R19 89W Bridgestone Potenza RE050A were what it is equipted with during the test, they shouldn't be THAT bad.

New RX8 sucks...I am now disappointed...It was great review when the original RX8 was introduced. But now, the new R3 pkg does not enhance its driving characteristic...Rotary...R.I.P. (rest in peace)

calm down guys - look at the cars it is up against ......

as mazda's making a new car with a new rotary engine....

exactly... there was a comparison a while back where it was compared to cars like the M5. Most these cars should be better.... especially since you pay for it.

Any truth to that?

^hmm... that's quite interesting. hahaha

An $80,000.00 Mustang...

I somehow don't feel as bad :dunno:

The rx8 handles great but isn't gods gift of balance. At least the facelift is getting some coverage.

I think this definitively illustrates in excruciatingly detailed terms why the (at least current '09) RX-8 *needs* mods like suspension, wheel and tires to get it competitive with other mundane and not-so-mundane cars in the handling dept...at least in this new R3 version. Tires could have a lot to do with it, but not that much....

One has to wonder what have they done to the car to get it so unsorted in this new version? ...springs...suspension rates for comfort...shock valving...sway bar rates?? And the std car must be a real mess....is it possible it's always been this way? Have newer cars gotten soooo much better? Wish they used an '08 not an '09.


So far it looks quite disappointing... one can make excuses for cars costing $60K $80K or $100K, but a Chevy that looks like a kicked dog?

The Cobalt SS has repeatedly shown its a great handling/performing car, FWD or otherwise, so thats no surprise. Yeah its an ugly lil turd, but it has sick performance. The Chevy brand and the looks is what gives it a "cheap" "pos" stigma. I dont see why people still dont realize this.

For the Mini, Rx-8 and Cobalt SS to even be in this company tells you something. Yeah i also wish the 8 would have put up better numbers but hey, look how many other cars they passed up in ultimately choosing the 8.

$80,000 Mustang. So if one invests $50,000 on the RX-8... Mwahahahaha!

Please go test trive a Cobalt SS. It is a revelation. It's an unbelievable FWD drive - if you can forgive that it's a Cobalt.

Aside from the body roll issue - which is why the most popular suspension mod seems to be bigger sway bars and something I don't believe they addressed in the R3 package - I don't see anything that strikes me as 'bad' in this review. The understeer thing has me scratching my head a bit. As others noted it's just an honor to be nominated. :)

A set of 18 inch rims and decent tires would probably bring some of those scores up.

Bone stock autocrossing the RX-8 understeers like its front wheel drive!!!
Of course an alignment fixes that issue easily.

hmmm... no mention of the G8... lame

Interesting..In fact, I remember that Best Motoring Japan in 2003 tested stock RX8 along with 2002 RX7 A-spec on winding road showdown. The comment was that RX8's soften rear suspension set up is intentional like other high performance cars do. It was good feeling on regular driving. In the other hand, the RX7's suspension is natural born track-racer set up.

^exactly. It's a sporting car for all occasions, thus why it's ludicrous to keep comparing it to the FD RX-7, or an S2000 or a 350Z.

Given the ride quality and comfort, I think the RX-8 fares fantastically. It is almost on par with S2000's and 350Z's performance stats on most counts, but the ride comfort is leaps ahead.

Lost to a Mustang?
Car and Driver begs to differ.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

Perhaps the mkI rx-8 was just the better car over the new one. Why mess with perfection? ;)

I hate how all of their performance tests include the viper acr, it is a track car!!! Adjustable suspension, that in some tests has an engineer to adjust the suspension to the ideal settings, I feel this ruins the test, it is about all round performance from the car, trying to find the best compromise for all the types of handling.

Sorry mate, I think your comment that the R3 has lost all of its driving characteristics is frankly bullshit.

As you know Mazda have reworked the rear suspension multi-links among many other "handling" improvements.

Here is briefly what our Australia WHEELS Mag said about the R3 (We call ours the GT)....

"The bottom line is all the other stuff (new equipment levels) is peripheral to how this more mature, more capable RX-8 drives.
YES, "outstanding" is the word that instantly springs to mind."

^ this article put the RX-8 to the front simply for it's daily drivability...which we all agree is fantastic. However I can't help but get the impression that the driver didn't know how to treat a rotory right, and was shifting too early, leaving it in low RPM expecting torque. They called it a 'bad engine'. I have a hard time believing that anyone who knows what they are doing can call it 'bad'. Underpowered perhaps from their perspective, but not 'bad'.

The track must also have been alot of straights with few turns, since the other 3 do simply have more power for those straights.

Disappointing article, even though it won.

(I have also been annoyed that Car and Driver and Motor Trend seem to have the same vehicles for the same tests every month. Conclusions change, but come on... separate more and go where the other one isn't.)

Part two is up.

I won't spoil where the 8 was ranked in this test.

I thought considering the pack of cars that was in the comparo, I am surprised the S2000, Miata, Boxster, Cayman, Z was not included. I suppose they want a car from each mfg.

That was a complete 180.

I still think tires made a difference in part 1. Braking is a tell all. Brake fade does not come into the equation until multiple stops so on a skid pad you can gauge how much grip the tires have by taking a look at the results.

All that said, any AWD vehicle has a real, tangable, definite advantage when equipted with street tires. As soon as stickier rubber is introduced AWD becomes a giant weight with no benefit.

well thats cool 3rd.....makes me happy when the soul of a car can mean more than lap times.....

Yeah, that sounds about right. When I hear the word handling, I think 'Mustang' is probably one of the last words that pops into my head... just ahead of 'oil tanker' and behind 'hummer limo.'

Nice article though, I'm reminded why I bought this car in the first place :)

that's one hell of a lineup of cars. Nicely done MT, the RX-8 shows (once again) that it's one heck of a car.

Gotta love this quote :D:

+1

Very very well said.

Now if only we had more powa !!!!!

WHERE IS THE CIVIC !!!!!!

CUZ ACCORDING TO THOSE RICER BOI OUT THERE, CIVICs IS DA SHITZ AND NOTHING COULD BEAT THEM ! AHHHHHHH !

Read both parts...gotta say that it was a VERY good read! Sending it to a friend with an 06 Mustang..just to rub some shit in his face a bit :P

wow ... now I feel better ... the RX-8 I know and love :grouphug: ... the sum is far far better than the sad test numbers suggest

Clearly these places reflect alot more than just the raw numbers. Nice job

Yeah and for a car that is so OLD and no "Enhanced Driving Characteristics",

It REALLY goes to show that the RX-8 IS ALL CLASS!..

Those of us in the know already knew that!

And thus, tis the reason I purchased an RX-8 and will keep one for life. It fuses and communicates with me in a way that no car I've driven has.

I still can't believe that the Cobalt was a few hundreths off of the EVo in Lap times. Damn, having been a former SS owner I knew they were good cars, but this turbo is fast (and ugly)

Look at ya, dissing your own car when you read a not-so-complimentary review, and spin 180 degrees to fanboi when something nice is said.

That's pretty bad guys. Doesn't show much confidence in your car. :icon_no2:

And that's just directed to the haters... not to the rational folks.

Wow he ranked the RX8 third! That guy knows his stuff

The EVO in 6th!
NO Subaru WRX?

Where is IKE when you need him...

I just wish they would have put all the cars on comparable tires. The range of tires that these cars come equipped with is staggering (no pun intended). Simply put, the runflat equipped vehicles would have had significantly better instrumented testing if they were on regular, comparable, summer-only tires. I would love to see this set of testing done with one model of tire in the appropriate sizes for all the cars. Eliminate the manufacturers tire choice and lets see who can really grip the road.


BTW- This shot is simply awesome.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/108308...+side_view.jpg

On the subject of Braking Distances this is what the New York Times said in 06..

From NY Times article "Stopping Short" , June 2006.


Braking (Stopping) distanced from a cruising speed of 60MPH (100KPH)

BEST

Aston Martin V-8 Vantage 107 ft.
Ferrari F430 Spider 107 ft.
Lotus Exige 107 ft.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 107 ft.
Porsche Boxster S 107 ft.
Porsche 911 Carrera S 108 ft.
Ferrari Enzo 109 ft.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 109 ft.
Maserati Quattroporte 109 ft.
Mazda RX-8 110 ft.

WORST

Ford Escape XLT 145 ft.
Volkswagen Passat 3.6 138 ft.
Volvo S60 T5 138 ft.
Cadillac CTS 138 ft.
Audi A3 2.0 T. 138 ft.
Mitsubishi Eclipse GT 137 ft.
Toyota Camry Hybrid 136 ft.
Subaru Legacy GT Limited 135 ft.
Scion xB 134 ft.
Honda Civic EX 133 ft.

A lot of people in this world don't like thinking for themselves or at least desperately need the approval of others.

seemed to dissappear ages ago - he never could understand what was good about the 8